Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was conflicted.
Both women are beautiful and in amazing shape. They have every right to perform as they see fit, and the performance was undeniably entertaining. I loved Shakira and but thought that J-Lo's performance was not as good. I also felt it was too overtly sexual for my taste. But that's just me. I guess I don't see over the top sexuality as empowerment.
The reaction of my 14 year old son was interesting. He found the show to be "confusing" and "uncomfortable." He said that they talk constantly at school about not objectifying women, but he thought that the performers were objectifying themselves. We had the usual "it is never ok to touch"conversation and I emphasized that dress or dance don't mean that a woman is "slutty." Each woman can present herself as she sees fit. He gets that. But his very sincere question was basically why, if women don't want to be viewed for their body parts, do they choose to put them on display in such an in your face way? He said, in not exactly these words, that it was almost like you couldn't see each as a talented performer because the emphasis was on body parts.
This is what you should say to your son... stop sexualizing women, their dress does not cause that. Dancers... ballarinas, trapeze artists, volley ball players... they wear very little/tight/revealing clothes. Stop making the outfit about sex. That is something that he is choosing to do. Belly Dancers move the same way... if you choose to think about sex when they dance that is on you. His reaction is extremely immature.
They are not in your face, it is his choice to sexualize a woman based on how she is dressed. He can choose better and his actions and reactions are his own, not caused by others.
They did not emphasize body parts HE emphasized body parts, he missed the art/athleticism/talent... that is on him.